gamjccdad

I think that if you are happy driving a Tarus, Camry, Accord, Oldsmabuick, etc. than you should never even get near a Merc, BMW, Audi, etc. They are fundementally not comparable.

The cost factor is not comparable, it is infinitely cheaper to drive the Japenese (designed) appliances and of course the disposable products produced by our own, once proud, Not quite as big 3.

You buy a Mercedes for the experience, the cache, and because you can. I get more looks, comments, etc in my 13 year old W124 convertable than I would in any new car, and that alone is worth the maintenance. I travel alot and rent cars and rarely can tell them apart, when I get back home and slide in the hand-crafted glory that is the E320, I say to myself, yes this is how a car should be.

shdoug

Funny you should mention a '91 Civic- I had one in '94 and it was a POS then. I don't enjoy driving Asian cars. My legs are too long and arms too short. Picture how Asians are built. I can't reach the steering wheel unless my knees are in my face, like Schroeder at the piano from Charlie Brown.

I decided to lease a Dodge Caliber. I'm amazed and shocked at how this "Economy" car compares to my old W124. The Dodge steers better, rides smoother, feels more solid (it's only 400 lbs. less), windshield wipers work better, and it's more comfortable to sit in. It doesn't smell as good, and that was my 2nd favorite feature of the Benz. It doesn't accelerate as well, either, and that was my favorite feature of the Benz. But at least it will keep me out of trouble.

It also has the lowest maintenance cost I've ever seen for a car of any type or year. I can change the plugs in about 15 minutes. I can change all 4 injectors in 20 minutes. There's no timing belt! I can do the front brakes in less than an hour. The O2 sensor would take me 10 minutes if I were slow, without a jack. No brake dust to clean from the front wheels every 3 days. Front wheel drive and 7" of ground clearance so I can get through the snow. I must be but I love this car! At 8,000 miles per year I won't have to do anything but oil changes for 2 1/2 years, and that's covered by the dealer for $4 per month! After that, $10 and 15 minutes for plugs, an air filter, and I'm good for another 2 1/2 years! What more could I ask for? If I want to drive a real car there's always my BMW, but for commuting to work, the Caliber rocks!

shadowgriffen

Dodge Caliber? Sorry no offense but...I would have just gone out and bought a civic...

DaKiD2189

u kno i was actually thinking of buying a civic, im still young and maybe a benz isnt for me, i only have it for like 3 months and i mustve put atleat 700 dollars into it already, it jus not for me right not now i mean it might break a couple necks but the 124 is just not for driving around all the time........

i still love my wagon tho

shdoug

Like I said, I can't reach the steering wheel. Also, Civics are highly overrated.
They have very cheap build quality. The stupid blue dash lights look like a video game, too. That alone would have been enough. They have only gotten worse in the last decade because Honda is relying on its past reputation for being a rock-solid car, while not making any significant improvements. I test-drove the Toyota Yaris- They've got to be kidding! $15,000 for what? What a joke! A golf cart would beat it, and sound better doing it. It's just a re-designed Yugo without the character of one.

I wanted to try American again and see if America has learned to build a car yet, and we have. The gap between the Hondas and Chevys is narrowing, and the Caliber has tons more character than the Civic. I may eat my words if it turns out to be crap, but for now I'm impressed. America, Japan, and Korea came together to design the engine, so I would think that should be worth something. CVT is great, too!

I'm not saying a Dodge is better than the W124 Just more cost effective!

ZedStyle

comparing ANY brand new car to a 15 year old mercedes will be more cost effective. if that dodge is even on the road in another ten years, then we'll see what kind of costs are associated with it. there are very few 15 year old dodges on the road now to do a real comparison today...
good thing you leased it though, so you don't have to deal with problems when they come up. is it a 2007? there was a recall on the ABS brakes, make sure yours is okay

shdoug

Thanks, I'll check.

neanderthal

bolded, self evident.
underlined mine.

n8nod9it

Its hard to part with the 124...I've put mine up for sale a few times only to back out. The car has something going for it that is like a love/hate relationship that when you drive it, it gives immense gratification. Even though its older, slower, and less tech than the newer cars, peeps give it respect like an elder. Mines been called gangsta...been called old school...been called dope...sweet...nice etc...from everyone from 12 year old kids to 70 year old German men who give ya that nod of approval. I don't need to sell it, money ain't a problem, its the garage space i want free'd up for another Ducati...but i can't let her go.

ksing44

Mine has not been called gangsta and I don't want a Ducati, but I feel the same way about everything else you wrote.

crr1612

mines been called a crack dealers car...i think its cause of the rims

Saijin_Naib

Mines just been called old, slow, and purple. But i loves it. Nothing drives like it.

TheEngineer

This tread started because the W124 was said to be "the best model ever". Some replies compared the German cars to the Japanese vehicles. I made an interesting discovery: The Kelly Blue Book value of a 1995 E320 is about $7500, about the same as a 1995 Lexus GS300. Your comments are invited.

shdoug

There's one on E-Bay for $5,800. Looks like the leather doesn't hold up as well as most W124s. As far as cost to own, the Lexus wins hands down. They will normally run forever with very few repairs. Like the W124 they are also over-engineered and very sturdy, well built cars. They are pretty boring to drive, however. Not much personality. They also look boring. As a matter of fact, pretty much everything about most Lexuses is boring. Lexus=Boring. Perfectly boring. If you're going to buy a 12 year old car, it had better not be boring or there will be no motivation to keep it up. The W124 is anything but boring, and has tons of personality. Personality does not come cheap, but one has to decide what's most important.

neanderthal

where cars are concerned, "personality" is a often crutch often used to disguise fault. but i know what youre saying.

to each their own. i prefer the driving dynamics of the benz to the lexus. ditto for the "solid" engineering, mechanical heft, and road presence. all vague, all subjective. all my preference.

ZorroAMG

costs or not, my 17 yr old car turns heads a billion times more than any toyota lexus sedan could. Period.

That's also why I love the W124...it looks effin cool

oneill_1

Yep....246,xxx miles here....W124 FTW!



-OG

Saijin_Naib

Wow, thats a lot! I just capped 100!

vili1982

You win. I can't say it better.

DarkHand

Same here just passed 100,000 this past weekend on the NJ turnpike...

FLsimFlyer

Well Im lucky, I only have 54,000 miles on my 91 300E so LOTS of enjoyment left to go.

ZedStyle

you actually have to DRIVE it to enjoy it...

Saijin_Naib

Yeah right? Its good to know that these babies can make it well over 100k, but it still seems like a scarily large number for me :p Darkhand, whereabouts in New Jersey?
You dont HAVE to drive them to enjoy them, I think they are quite enjoyable to look at sitting still as well!

shadowgriffen

+5003939485784848

I drove a toyota tercel 4 door in highschool and it felt alot like the ES 300 my friend used to have

FLsimFlyer

I drive it. I just bought it a few weeks ago. I came across it with that few miles on it.